Search Engine Startpage.com Introduces Anonymous Web Browsing

Free, innovative proxy service offers complete online privacy

January 28, International Data Privacy Day 2010

Startpage, the world's most private search engine, and its E.U. brand, Ixquick, today announced the release of a new proxy service that allows users to surf the web with complete privacy. The proxy lets users browse websites safely and anonymously, without passing on any private, personally identifiable information to the websites they view.

The Startpage proxy is a free service that works in conjunction with the Startpage search engine, available at www.startpage.com. When users perform a search, they will find a clickable "proxy" option below each search result. When this option is selected, Startpage acts as an intermediary to retrieve the page and display it in a privacy-protected Startpage window.

The proxy offers complete anonymity, since the user never makes direct contact with the third-party website. The user's IP address is invisible to the viewed website. In addition, the website cannot see or place cookies on the user's browser.

The proxy service is covered by the same privacy policy that has made Startpage the industry leader when it comes to search engine privacy. Startpage does not record IP addresses, make a record of users' searches, or record details about proxy usage. The company's data collection practices are third-party certified and widely considered the best in the industry.

The proxy service is being launched today, January 28th, to celebrate international Data Privacy Day.

"People are more concerned about online data retention policies than ever before," said CEO Robert Beens. "We wanted to offer them a useful tool and this proxy is a logical extension of our services. A search engine is a starting point for people to visit other pages. Now our users can take the privacy they get with Startpage to the next step, and go privately to the sites they have found as well. This proxy completes the total search privacy picture."

Details on the new Startpage Proxy service, along with a video explaining the service by Startpage's US spokeswoman, privacy expert Dr. Katherine Albrecht, can be found on the "Startpage Proxy Explained" page: http://www.startpage.com/proxy/eng/help.html

People wishing to experience the Startpage proxy can perform a search at: http://www.startpage.com, then click the "proxy" option below the search result.

About Startpage

Startpage is an award-winning search engine with an industry-leading privacy policy. Founded in New York in 1998 under the name Ixquick, Startpage is the only major search engine to provide fully anonymous, private searches, since it does not record any personal data on its users. It is also the first and only search engine to offer SSL encryption to prevent data from being eavesdropped. Further information on Startpage, including details about the company's exemplary data-handling practices, can be found at www.startpage.com.